The Lost Heirs Vendetta

Chapter 12: Training

 I focused on bringing all of the energy in my body to the palm of my hand. My first three attempts failed, but my fourth was a success. The flame was small, barely the size of one of my fingernails, but it was still a flame. I tried to draw more power to make the flame bigger, but when I did, it just extinguished.

"That's amazing though, Aleah," Brock reassures, "excellent job."

I give Brock a smile but I don't quite feel happy about what I've accomplished. After Brock read that book to me, I wanted to learn how to use my powers less. Brock thinks that training to use my powers will allow me to help others. But I think that if I use my powers, then it will be easier to hurt someone, which makes me terrified. I never wanted to hurt anyone, I never could.

The prophecy is what really scares me. If Prince Julian used his powers to cause harm to his kingdom five hundred years ago, then that means that I may do the same. I didn't want to follow the same path he did but now, it's so hard to forget that I am a walking human weapon just waiting to be used to cause destruction.

"I think that's enough for today, we've been training all day and I'm sure you're exhausted," Brock says.

We really have been training all day. And even after all of that, I've only managed to summon one tiny flame the whole time. I know mastering something can be hard, especially your powers, I just feel like I should have progressed quicker.

"Yeah," I replied.

I walk over to Brock and sit next to him.

"Do you know anything about the people who're behind your assassination attempt?" I ask him, trying to push away the thoughts and worries of my powers.

I can feel Brock flinch a little at my mentioning someone trying to kill him, but he only shakes his head. I can see disappointment flash through his eyes for only a quick second.

"We have nothing," he says, " and no one has a clue who could have hired him."

"Well, didn't he say that he was hired by a girl?"

"Yes," he says, standing up, "but, they were most likely working for someone else too. It's almost impossible to try and figure out who's really the mastermind behind it all."

I sit there trying to think about who would want Brock dead, but no one comes to mind.

"I mean, the only suspect we really have is Darian, but if we lock him up then that would be considered an act of war. Trithia would crush us." Brock says. "But I don't think it was him anyways."

I look at Brock surprised. How could he not consider Darian a suspect? He shows up here and a couple days later someone is trying to kill Brock. It doesn't make sense.

"What? Why? Darian is probably the most likely to do something like this," I say.

"It just doesn't add up, Aleah," he says, "what would he gain by killing me? If we put him in the dungeons, I'm sure Trithia would attack us and if they wanted to do that, then why did they go through all the trouble of going through with this marriage and alliance?"

Now that Brock says it out loud, it makes more sense. I just can't seem to shake how suspicious it is that Darian shows up and there is an assassin targeting my brother.

"Listen," he says, "all I can tell you is that we're working on it and you would be the first one to know anything if we find out, okay?"

I nod and watch Brock pace throughout the room.

"I should get going," he finally says.

"Yeah, I suppose you have been here all day."

Once Brock is gone, I come up with the most ridiculous and probably the most dangerous idea I've ever had in my life. Darian said his room was the first one on the left right? It annoys me that his room is right next to mine but at least it was a short walk. I was going to get answers, one way or another.